MEANS AND METHOD FOR AN ON-LINE DETERMINATION OF THE FLASH POINT OF LUBE OIL FRACTIONS

• US 3,748,894 A
• Filed: 06/15/1972
• Issued: 07/31/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles R. Lynch, William D. White
• Original Assignee: Charles R. Lynch, William D. White
• Inventors: White, William D., Lynch, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldstein, Herbert
• Application Number:
  US05/263,062
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 73/32,36 235/151.12MO,151.34
• US Class Current: 73/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

Apparatus provides for an on-line determination of the flash point of lube oil fractions. The hydrocarbon is continuously sampled by a viscosity analyzer and a density analyzer which provides signals corresponding to the viscosity and the API gravity of the lube oil fractions. A computer circuit provides a signal corresponding to the flash point of the lube oil fractions in accordance with the viscosity signal and the gravity signal.

Claims

1. A flash point analyzer comprising means for sensing the density of lube oil fractions and providing a first signal representative thereof, means for sensing the viscosity of the lube oil fractions and providing a second signal corresponding thereto, means connected to the density and the viscosity sensing means for providing a signal corresponding to a flash point of the lube oil fractions by combining said first and second signals in accordance with a predetermined emperical relationship relating said flash point with said density and viscosity.

2. An on-line analyzer for providing an output corresponding to a flash point of lube oil fractions from a unit in a refinery, comprising means for sensing the density of the lube oil fractions and providing a first signal representative thereof, means for sensing the viscosity of the lube oil fractions and providing a second signal corresponding thereto, and means connected to the density and the viscosity sensing means for providing the output corresponding to the flash point of the lube oil fractions by combining said first and second signals in accordance with a predetermined emperical relationship relating said flash point with the density and the viscosity.

3. A flash point analyzer as described in claim 2 in which the signal from the density sensing means corresponds to the API gravity of the lube oil fractions and the signal from the viscosity sensing means corresponds to the Saybolt Universal Viscosity of the lube oil fractions.

4. A flash point analyzer as described in claim 3 in which the means for providing the flash point output provides the output in accordance with the API gravity and Saybolt Universal Viscosity signals and the following equation:

Flash Point k1 + k2/G - k3/VG where G is the API gravity, V is the Saybolt Universal Viscosity and k1 through k3 are factors.

5. A flash point analyzer as described in claim 3 in which the flash point signal means include means connected to the density signal means and to the viscosity signal means for providing a signal corresponding to a Watson-Nelson characterization factor F in accordance with the API gravity signal, the Saybolt Universal Viscosity signal and the following equation:

F k4 + k5G - k6/V where G is the API gravity, V is the Saybolt Universal Viscosity, and k4 through k6 are factors, and means connected to the F factor signal means and to the API gravity signal means for providing the output corresponding to the flash point in accordance with the API gravity signal and the F factor signal from the factor signal means in accordance with the API gravity signal, the F factor signal and the following equation;

Flash Point k7F-k8/G + k9 where k7 through k9 are factors.

6. A method for providing an output corresponding to a flash point of lube oil fractions from a unit in a refinery, which comprises the following steps:

sensing the density of the lube oil fractions, providing a first signal corresponding to the API gravity of the lube oil fractions in accordance with the sensed density, sensing the viscosity of the lube oil fractions providing a second signal corresponding to the Saybolt Universal Viscosity in accordance with the sensed viscosity, and deriving the output corresponding to the flash point of the lube oil fractions by combining said first and second signals in accordance with a predetermined emperical relationship relating said flash point with said API gravity and Saybolt Universal Viscosity.

7. A method as described in claim 6 in which the output providing step includes providing the flash point output in accordance with the API gravity signal, Saybolt Universal Viscosity signal and the following equation:

Flash Point k1 + k2/G - k3/VG where G is the API gravity, V is a Saybolt Universal Viscosity and k1 through k3 are factors.

8. A method as described in claim 6 in which the output providing step includes providing a signal corresponding to the Watson-Nelson characterization factor F in accordance with the API gravity signal, the Saybolt Universal Viscosity signal and the fOllowing equation:

F k4 + k5G - k6/V where G is the API gravity, V is the Saybolt Universal Viscosity, and k4 through k6 are factors, and providing the output corresponding to the flash point in accordance with the API gravity signal, the F factor signal and the following equation;

Flash Point k7F - k8/G + k9 where k7 through k9 are factors.